Everyone in the hall froze, their expressions with mix of shock and disbelief. No one had imagined that Wu Qingyi, with her seemingly innocent demeanour, could wield the old lady's own words against her so effortlessly. Wang Hao's brows shot up in astonishment as he hadn't anticipated that the girl would so cunningly turn the tables, delivering a subtle yet stinging retaliation for the veiled insults directed at their master.
Wu Qingyi, however, was unfazed by the astonished gazes or the heavy silence. Her mind was focused solely on the task at hand. With calm authority, she instructed the bodyguards, "Take the dowry and betrothal gifts to the car immediately."
The bodyguards, having witnessed how fiercely she had defended their master's honour and avenged his dignity, required no further confirmation. They moved with precision, obeying her command as if it were an unspoken law. In that moment, the unspoken acknowledgment settled in the room and Wu Qingyi was no longer just a guest or a naïve girl, she was now the Young Madam, the rightful wife of Wang Lingxuan, commanding respect from all who were present.
Once the dowry and betrothal gifts were safely placed in the car, Wu Qingyi turned to her bodyguards and calmly requested, "Please bring my handbag and luggage and put them in the car as well." The bodyguards obeyed without hesitation, carefully loading her belongings.
Throughout the entire process, the Liu family remained frozen in silence. Their minds scrambled, searching for words or a strategy, but none came. In truth, they had nothing to say. Even the old lady, the most seasoned schemer of them all, found herself utterly speechless. No matter how she strained her mind, no clever solution presented itself. All they could do was stand aside, helpless, as the Wang bodyguards efficiently moved Wu Qingyi's possessions back and forth, asserting her authority with every step.
Once every item was carefully loaded into the car, Wu Qingyi turned gracefully toward the Liu family and said, "Thank you for bringing me back from the mountains and allowing me to marry into the Wang family. Now, it is time for me to leave this house."
Wu Qingyi then walked toward the car, Wang Hao following closely behind. Just before stepping out the door, she paused, turned her gaze back toward the stunned Liu family, and said firmly, "Where there is no respect for my husband, there will be no respect from me to any of you. From this moment onward, our paths are separate. Goodbye."
Wu Qingyi stepped into the car, and with a graceful composure, the vehicle rolled away from the Liu residence. Only then did the full weight of the situation strike every member of the Liu family. That seemingly simple, naïve girl had outwitted them completely. She had not only taken the gifts meant for her to the Wang family but had also denied them any claim over the Wang family's betrothal gifts. Their greed and schemes had been utterly thwarted, leaving them staring in disbelief at the retreating car.
Li Yexin and Liu Wuxin erupted in a chorus of curses. Their anger and frustration directed at Wu Qingyi's retreating figure. Meanwhile, the old lady and Liu Moran exchanged a long, heavy glance, eyes clouded with regret. Regret for bringing the girl back, regret for making her the bride, and most of all, regret for the lost opportunities and benefits that this marriage, so carefully schemed, had promised but ultimately failed to deliver.
The old lady quickly commanded Li Yexin and Liu Wuxin to cease their curses, her voice laced with forced composure. "Let's lay low for now," she said, masking her frustration. "That girl will return to us soon enough as no one in the Wang family would tolerate such a foolish bride. When that time comes, we will take our revenge and gain what we rightfully deserve." Her words stirred a flicker of hope in the hearts of the Liu women. A fragile glimmer they clung to. Yet, they could never have foreseen the truth: Wu Qingyi was not only fully accepted into the Wang household, she had also captured the hearts of everyone there, quickly becoming the most cherished and beloved of them all.
As the car glided smoothly along the road toward the Wang residence, Wu Qingyi turned to Wang Hao, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Mr. Wang Hao," she asked softly, "will everyone in the Wang family be at home when we arrive?"
Wang Hao paused for a moment, weighing his words carefully, then replied, "Young Madam, we are not heading to the main residence. After the incident, the Young Master has been living apart, in a secluded part of the estate, to recover in peace during his treatment."
Wu Qingyi recalled the news she had come across online that Wang Lingxuan had been removed from the main residence, living in a modest house because he supposedly had little value and had lost his CEO position. Yet the truth was far from that. Wang Lingxuan had chosen to retreat, unable to bear the sorrowful looks of his elders when they saw him confined to a wheelchair and in pain. His irritability over small matters risked wounding the feelings of his family, so he secluded himself in a distant part of the estate. The Wang family allowed the misleading rumours about his position and permanent disability to persist, fearing that if the truth spread, rivals might target him, jeopardizing his recovery and treatment.
On the surface, the world believed that the Wang family's empire was still under the command of the CEO Wang Shenghao, Wang Lingxuan's father. But behind the shadows of the CEO, it was Wang Lingxuan who held the true authority. Only the direct Wang family members and a handful of elite bodyguards were aware of this hidden reality. Unaware of these secret workings, Wu Qingyi could only feel a growing ache of sympathy and worry for her husband.
After a long silence, Wu Qingyi finally gathered the courage to ask, her voice soft yet laced with worry, "Did you… spend all of the young master's money just to buy these gifts?" Her fingers tightened around the edge of her sleeve, a faint ache rising in her chest. The thought that her husband, already burdened by so much, might be strained further because of her made her heart twist painfully."
Misreading her concern, Wang Hao assumed she wished to know whether the gifts came from the young master alone. So, with a respectful nod and a hint of pride in his voice, he answered softly, "Yes, Madam… every single one of these was personally prepared by the young master."
Wu Qingyi misunderstood his words entirely. Believing that her husband had poured out all his hard-earned savings just to buy her these gifts, her heart ached with a tender heaviness. He must care for me so deeply… The thought warmed her chest, yet also tightened it with guilt. Right then and there, she made a silent but unwavering decision — she would buy him a good house, a place where he could finally live in comfort and peace, without suffering or compromising for her ever again.
Wu Qingyi turned to him and asked softly, "Mr. Wang Hao, do you know any property agent?"
"Yes, Young Madam and please, just call me Hao," Wang Hao replied with a gentle smile. "That is how the young master addresses me as well."
"All right, Hao. Then… could you take me to the property agent now?" Wu Qingyi asked softly, her tone carrying both resolve and a quiet plea.
Wang Hao faltered for a moment, unable to guess what the newlywed young madam intended. Why would she suddenly want to see a property agent? Shouldn't she be eager to reach the young master first? A faint crease formed between his brows as he continued driving. Could it be… she isn't satisfied with the gifts? He recalled how she had asked moments earlier whether everything had been given by the young master alone.
Perhaps she wanted the young master to purchase a property for her as well, was she hinting at wanting something bigger, something grander? The thought made his heart thump with unease. Young master might be silent, but… if she starts making excessive demands right after the marriage… will this trouble him? Still, Wang Hao kept his voice respectful as he answered, "As you wish, Young Madam. I will take you there."
However, curiosity slowly gnawed at Wang Hao's heart. No matter how much he tried to suppress it, the question burned hotter with every passing minute. Finally, he could no longer stay silent. "Young Madam…" he said carefully, his voice low yet respectful, "May I ask… why do you want to meet a property agent? Are you… planning to buy a house?" Inside the moving vehicle, a brief hush fell. Through the discreet Bluetooth channel, every single bodyguard heard the question clearly. Though their faces remained impassive behind their black-tinted glasses, their thoughts stirred in waves. Surprise. Confusion. Suspicion. Was this girl truly as simple as she looked? Or was she, like the Liu family, hiding sharp claws beneath soft innocence? Some of them wondered in silence, was she marrying their master for wealth? Perhaps she was naïve on the surface, but calculating in her heart? The air in the car thickened, heavy with unspoken doubt, as all of them waited for Wu Qingyi's answer.
Wu Qingyi let out a soft, almost bell-like laugh, her eyes curving into beautiful crescents as she glanced at Wang Hao, as if he had asked the most obvious question in the world. "Of course I'm going to buy a property," she said simply, her tone light yet firm. "That's why I need a property agent." Her answer stunned him for a moment. Wang Hao hesitated, then carefully asked, "Young Madam… if you don't mind, may I ask why you want to buy a property?"
The moment the words left his mouth, the air inside the car shifted. Wu Qingyi's smile slowly faded. Her fingers tightened over the edge of her dress, and for a heartbeat, silence filled the vehicle. Wang Hao's heart skipped, he thought he had said something wrong. Just as he opened his mouth to apologize, she spoke first. Her voice was soft, but it cut deep. "I feel bad for my husband…"